Landrieu is taking up Bernie's mantle on the Floor. Every single one who helps

[gateley]

him, I'm calling their offices to thank them. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be calling Landrieu, though. :evilgrin:

[sasha031]

1. I was thing the same thing

glad she's there.

[L. Coyote]

2. ***** Official LIVE BLOG Senate = Tax Cuts Debate *****

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9744049

Thanks for being on top of today's event Gateley

[gateley]

5. Thanks for the link so I can be "official", L. Coyote! How did I miss all those

asterisks?? :7

See you there! :hi:

[Poboy]

3. My POS Senator is, for once, doing something good. Hurray!

[Arkana]

4. Landrieu voted for the original tax cuts.

[gateley]

7. Yeah, but what's important now is how she votes now. nt

[Skidmore]

8. True, however

it is just dripping with irony that she didn't think of these things or notice them when she was lining up behind *'s agenda items.

[gateley]

11. She was trying to explain her reasoning. She sounds pretty sincere and I have

to say, it's the first time I've ever heard her speak where I didn't feel like slapping her.

[AlabamaLibrul]

12. Mary Landrieu: Acting Like A Democrat(for once). Wish others would catch on n/t

[Waiting For Everyman]

6. I know, right??? OMG!

I'll bust out a thank you to her, too. (Well I guess we're going to see pigs fly next.)

[Kalyke]

9. That was surprising.

I couldn't believe it when I saw her up there helping Bernie.

:wow:

[rucky]

10. Landrieu wants to block. Sanders & Brown want to negotiate...

http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=87D80E8F-DE70-4F2A-BD03-F3ADDC53C6D1

Dear Leader Reid:

The tax package announced by President Obama and Congressional Republicans includes some important provisions that we strongly support, but also a deeply misguided allocation of resources at a time that the United States does not have resources to waste.

The Senate, however, can make it better. We ask that you ensure an opportunity for the Senate to vote on an amendment that will give the American people a clear choice whether they would prefer to give bonus tax cuts to the very wealthiest among us, as the package currently proposes, or to use these resources to strengthen Social Security.

Success in America should rightly be celebrated, but the very wealthy do not need bonus tax cuts and America cannot afford to give them. As you know, the agreement would require American taxpayers to borrow over $50 billion in order to give, on average, $100,000 in additional annual tax cuts to people earning over $1 million per year. These bonus tax cuts are on top of the $43,000 per year that millionaires will receive in tax cuts on their first million dollars of income. The Congressional Budget Office ranked these tax cuts dead last in terms of effectiveness in boosting economic growth and job creation. In a time of urgent national needs and long-term deficits, we believe the country has higher priorities than these huge tax cuts for the very wealthy.

Specifically, we propose to amend the package to restore tax rates on income over $1 million per year to the Clinton-era rates, and to dedicate the resulting revenues to shoring up the Social Security trust fund. The President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform noted that in 2037, Social Security will exhaust its trust fund and be unable to pay full benefits, and consequently proposed a number of benefit cuts for seniors. Improving Social Security’s finances is, in our opinion, a more important national priority than directing tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer money to a relative handful of families.

We have grave misgivings about the recent tax agreement. We hope that the Senate can improve on it. We look forward to working with you to ensure a vote on our amendment to strengthen Social Security in lieu of bonus tax cuts for people who are doing quite well. Thank you.

[jwirr]

13. She is also making a lot of sense. I was surprised to see her also.

[bobbolink]

14. I called Udall and Bennet of Colorado... lets see if they show up, too.

If Landrieu can speak up like an actual Democrat, then those two disappointments should also be able to do the same.

[lukasahero]

15. Wait - what? *We're* fillibustering?

Damn, I just went to lunch and geez - wtf?